If this topic has been posted, please remove, however I could find no similar thread.

Remember the short lived and much heavily critiqued (at least here) reality series 'Airline'? Well it looks as if TLC (The Learning Channel) is bringing an updated version back into our homes, staring........Southwest Airlines! Saw the promos yesterday while channel surfing. Looks like the same old series with a new title 'OnThe Fly', featuring the same cast of characters, namely bitching passengers, drunk passengers, dumb passengers. From what I was able to dig up is that most of the series is being shot in Florida, mainly TPA, FLL as well as BWI, MDW and DEN.

Yeah, it will be premiering in a couple of weeks. From what I can tell, and a review that I read, there is nothing really different from the old show. The only difference is the locations, as they aren't locking themselves into MDW, BWI and LAX. I am also pretty sure the same production company is being used this time as well

I wonder if it will get a little bit better ratings as TLC is probably a bit wider watched than A & E was. I wonder if any of the Supervisors or Managers from the original show will be on the new one.

I remember watching the original version of the show and finding it quite interesting. A&E got 3 seasons and 70 episodes out of it before cancelled the series. I think such a show can only have a lifespan of so long. After all how many times can they talk about denying someone boarding because they drank too much - I remember that being a common occurring in the series.

Quoting JetBlueGuy2006 (Reply 2):I wonder if any of the Supervisors or Managers from the original show will be on the new one.

It would be interesting if someone them were on the new show so we could get an update on them. The Wikipedia article on Airline has a list of Southwest employees featured in the series:

It hasn't really been The Learning Channel in years. It's really just called TLC now. I think they had to give up on the "Learning" name once they started showing programming that has zero chance to ever educate anyone on anything of significance.

Quoting SW733 (Reply 5):It hasn't really been The Learning Channel in years. It's really just called TLC now. I think they had to give up on the "Learning" name once they started showing programming that has zero chance to ever educate anyone on anything of significance.

^This. The truest statement I've seen in years! LOL!!

It amazes me that they continue with the same name. I remember when the difference between the Discovery Channel and TLC was what time the next animal in the wild documentary was on. BOTH channels are a shell of their former selves frankly. Discovery still retains SOME of the "discovery" aspect.

Quoting SW733 (Reply 5):It hasn't really been The Learning Channel in years. It's really just called TLC now. I think they had to give up on the "Learning" name once they started showing programming that has zero chance to ever educate anyone on anything of significance.

Well it was really meant for those outside the US who might not know what TLC actually is. I agree with the rest of your comments regarding TLC, sadly, trashy "reality" programs seem to be the norm there and everywhere on TV.

Southwest has a behind the scenes comic/advertisement in the current Spirit inflight magazine about this new reality show. It was totally focused on MDW and don't recall it mentioning any other airports.

I recall seeing a camera crew and boom mikes the first part of March in Denver. There have also been signs around the check-in area as well as concourse that it was an area where you could be filmed and by entering the area... blah, blah, blah. The filming I saw the customer was quite calm and the gate agent even went over to the producers standing 5 feet from me afterwards saying that may have been the most understanding customer she ever dealt with... so will it make the show?

Quoting SW733 (Reply 5):I think they had to give up on the "Learning" name once they started showing programming that has zero chance to ever educate anyone on anything of significance.

Quoting AirCanada787 (Reply 3):After all how many times can they talk about denying someone boarding because they drank too much - I remember that being a common occurring in the series.

Unfortunately, production companies look for the entertainment value of spirited or emotional pax. While I agree that this was common in the series, let's face it: there has never been a shortage of "interesting" pax from which a story line may evolve for this show or any other show.

I enjoyed the old "Airline" show and I'm looking forward to the new version. I spent some time at most of the WN terminals where they filmed, except LAX. Some of the pax seem unbeliveable, unless you are a frequent flyer.

Quoting usscvr (Reply 12):Quoting SW733 (Reply 5):I think they had to give up on the "Learning" name once they started showing programming that has zero chance to ever educate anyone on anything of significance

Quoting ScottB (Reply 1):I think they'd get a MUCH more interesting series filming NK's operation at Terminal 4 in FLL...

Oh, God, yes, especially when people start being told they have to pay $100 if they want to take their carry-on with them.

Quoting SW733 (Reply 5):It hasn't really been The Learning Channel in years. It's really just called TLC now. I think they had to give up on the "Learning" name once they started showing programming that has zero chance to ever educate anyone on anything of significance.

And passengers who book the flight and the cruise through different companies and opt out of travel insurance are often left with no recourse, and instead choose to helpfully release their anger onto the ticket agent.

I'm curious if any other airlines were approached for the show. Yes, Southwest is interesting. But its operation is different from that of the legacies (AA, UA, DL, and US). It only operates 737s. It doesn't have the elites or a large number of VIPs that the legacies carry. It doesn't have to deal with a multitude of missed connections, because a 777 is sitting in LHR, due to a problem with the hydraulic system.

Quoting ckfred (Reply 18):I'm curious if any other airlines were approached for the show. Yes, Southwest is interesting. But its operation is different from that of the legacies (AA, UA, DL, and US). It only operates 737s. It doesn't have the elites or a large number of VIPs that the legacies carry. It doesn't have to deal with a multitude of missed connections, because a 777 is sitting in LHR, due to a problem with the hydraulic system.

From what I understand with regards to 'Airline', all of the others were approached, but they all wanted full editorial control, the producers however had other ideas. WN was the only one to agree to the production company's stipulations. As WN is the star of this series, I am assuming that the same or similar conditions applied.